Archive for the ‘My Husband’ Category

For six years I have had to live with horrible shrinking linoleum in our kitchen and then the foyer followed suit. A large swatch of concrete slab peeked through, it taunted me with it’s dried floor glue ridges every time I swept or mopped.

I hated this floor, even worse I wasn’t a fan of my husband who did not see why we needed to spend the money to replace it.

Something changed in him this year, and along with his bonus from work we asked family for cash this Christmas instead of gifts so that we could get the dreaded floors replaced…. finally!

We knew we wanted laminate. The search went on for weeks. We went to several different stores. Some were too cheap, the big box stores were to expensive and some were just laughable. We had it between two stores and then we had to decide what type, color and price worked best for our budget.

Brian and I were at a stand still. He liked one type, I hated the color. I loved one type, it was too expensive. He went out without me and brought home two samples, we placed them on the floor by the kitchen cabinets and the decision was made…. finally!

We procured a wonderful man from church to install our new flooring. He used to do it for a living before he needed something more secure for his family and now he does jobs on the side.

Ryan, is amazing. Not only did he do an incredible job he taught Brian how to be a little more handy during the process. Even I got in on the action. I pulled a few nails which turned out I’m not a fan and took off some baseboards which was much more fun.

I don’t have a quality before picture as my husband took it with his phone and I never thought to take one at all. Why would I want to remember the horror that was my kitchen and foyer floors?

But here is what it looks like now and I am thrilled that it’s done.

Finally!

Our hands intertwined, my large ivory dress, with scarlet trim barely allowing me in the seat as the band started playing. A crumpled damp tissue clenched in my fist, I dabbed my eyes for the hundredth time as I tried to keep the mascara in place. My heart was swollen, still overwhelmed by Brian’s declaration of love. I had cried in front of all of our family and friends, something I never ever would have voluntarily done. Tears were for the shower, when you were alone and the cascading water could drown out the sobs and wash them away down the drain never to be mentioned again. I had been caught off guard, not by the speech, I knew it was planned, what I did not know was the words that would come from deep within his heart, exposed for all to hear, intimate and crafted with care. Never spoken at our first wedding, generic and thrown together within a couple of weeks, filled with regret and sadness. This time, five years later, meaning so much more than our first vows ever would. Our faith came through with every word. God was the center of our marriage now and forever more, the renewal of our vows a testament to what He had done in our lives.  It was important to us, that our girls and our family and friends know our hearts and see the declaration of our souls back to Him, and our love to one another.

You stood before creation

Eternity within Your hand

You spoke the earth into motion

My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure

Carried the Cross for my shame

My sin weighed upon Your shoulders

My soul now to stand

I sang, whisper soft, letting the words wash over me, through me. They penetrated my heart, the events of the day settling in, growing outward in the form of a smile. My hand enclosed in Brian’s, sweaty and familiar.

So what can I say

What can I do

But offer this heart O God

Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation

Your Spirit alive in me

This life to declare Your promise

My soul now to stand

So what can I say

What can I do

But offer this heart O God

Completely to You

So I'll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the One who gave it all

I bolted out of my chair, eyes, scrunched shut, the tears streamed. My voice came out loud and strong from deep inside. Our hands no longer clasped, now outstretched upwards toward the heavens. I swayed, cradled by the music, the love I had for Him. He had given me the great gift of Brian I love this man and our two girls Precious beyond belief. I was absolutely in love, filled to the brim with emotions, they churned inside yet with peace and understanding. Thankfulness.

So I'll stand

My soul Lord to You surrendered

All I am is Yours

Everyone, everything melted completely away.

Just me.

Just Him.

I believe.

Immense joy swelled within my heart.

So what can I say

What can I do

But offer this heart O God

Completely to You

This post was written for the prompt over at The Red Dress Club.

I’ve been waiting for peace and quiet all day and when it finally made an appearance I was too angry to enjoy it.

By the time Brian came home from work I was overloaded and on edge. I had had enough of being Mom and caregiver and I was exploding over the tiniest of things. Things that wouldn’t bother me during regular circumstances, but I’m hormonal. Add that plus a long day of repeatedly having to say no and correcting a 2.5 and 4 year old’s constant room destroying capabilities and it’s a wonder I didn’t have a complete nuclear meltdown.

I was close.

Very close.

Brian must have sensed my mood because he promptly took all 3 kids to basketball practice without a word.

I text him: Thank you. I am so angry right now. I know it is because of my hormones and the events of today, but I still shouldn’t be this angry. But I am. I need a break.

I sit and stew in my own juices while weaving in ends of the custom crochet blanket I am working on for a friend. A hexagon blanket that takes hours upon hours of work. Really I’m not bitter about it. Seriously, I’m not. Promise!

I watched an American Gothic episode on Hulu because I could and Shaun Cassidy is a freaking genius when it comes to TV, though American Gothic and Invasion were canceled after only 1 season. Sigh.

Then Hulu shuts down on the PS3 and refuses to play anything else and it frustrates me to no end.

I receive a text from Brian asking if I want him to pick me up something for dinner.

I decline saying I’ll grab something from the freezer, only when I look in the freezer there is nothing that I really want to eat.

So I text him back and let him know that I would die for a hamburger and some fries.

They all come home.

Without food.

He never saw my text.

The kids are happy. Alex smiles and pretends to be sleeping in Brian’s arms with a big grin on his face and I crack a smile too.

My anger melts away.

I read Alex Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb; Goodnight Moon and Snuggle Puppy and sing him songs and prayers while rocking him to sleep.

I read Ramona the Pest to the girls and kiss them good night.

I come downstairs to find Wendy’s sitting on the recliner.

My husband is so very good to me. He went back out in the cold to bring me home a hamburger and some fries.

I got to chat with fellow writers on Twitter.

We watched a hilarious episode of Modern Family.

It’s now 12am and I finally have peace and quiet.

I started to write a post for tonight and it became all dialogue which fulfilled this weeks Red Writing Hood prompt over at The Red Dress Club. When I was done banging that out, I realized that what I should write about tonight was what happened today.

The anger that consumed me.

My family who all played a part in rescuing me.

And now?

I feel at rest.

A little peace and quiet can do wonders for the soul.

We were blessed with free tickets to the Flyers @ Blue Jackets hockey game on Monday.

Six rows from the glass  to the left of the net.

Sweet seats!

The Blue Jackets were beating the Flyers, who were not playing well…. at all.

I prayed fervently that they would just score at least one goal.

I didn’t even care if they won.

I just wanted one goal so that the kids could cheer for their team, especially Alex.

My prayer was answered.

And they showed us celebrating…. on TV!

Here is the screen shot:

Here is the YouTube video:

We are shown at 2:39 into the video.

How cool is that?

I just wish Katie had been tall enough and not behind Brianna to be seen too.

And a couple more pictures from the night:

Brian showing Alex the Flyers warming up.

I wish I had a picture of Alex standing at the glass, he was the perfect height to see and he was grinning ear to ear.

Alas, my phone battery was all but dead.

Not really sure what happened to the picture quality or why I’m making that crazy smile face.

The Flyers played the Sabres on Tuesday and won 6-3.

Why couldn’t they have done that Monday?!

For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom!